© 2024 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Ex-State Lawmaker Says He Shouldn’t Have Traded His Seat for Lighter Sentence

Gavel
s_falkow
/
flickr creative commons

A former state lawmaker is asking the Michigan Supreme Court to let him run for another political office despite his promise not to. As we hear from Rick Pluta, former state Senator Virgil Smith says his plea bargain was unconstitutional.

Smith says prosecutors and judges can’t force a lawmaker to quit – only the Legislature has that power. He also says he couldn’t legally trade his office for a lighter sentence.

Smith pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor after firing shots into his ex-wife’s car, and the prosecutor agreed to drop more serious felony charges. Smith resigned, but the judge threw out the part of the plea deal that barred Smith from running for office for at least five years.

So, Smith filed to run for the Detroit City Council and came out in the primary as one of the top two candidates. The prosecutor is asking for a swift decision from the court so ballots can be printed in time to be mailed to overseas voters.

Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. His journalism background includes stints with UPI, The Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal, The (Pontiac, MI) Oakland Press, and WJR. He is also a lifelong public radio listener.
Journalism at this station is made possible by donors who value local reporting. Donate today to keep stories like this one coming. It is thanks to your generosity that we can keep this content free and accessible for everyone. Thanks!